It was a Tuesday morning, I was all set to go to work and was busy preparing lunch for all of us, K, me and J. Then suddenly the alarm bell rang, K was up with high fever, watery eyes…….Me and J was just shattered.
K did have her phase of sickness before; she even had a visit to the hospital when she was 8 months old for a case of severe diarrhea, but fever! Never……..not even during DPT vaccination (all thanks to the pain less shots). Worried me and J rushed her to the doctor, went through a painful process of routine blood test. It is so difficult when you need to do this, getting the right vein for such a small child is quite tricky and so goes multiple pricks. Nevertheless, my brave girl put a brilliant face, she did cry for sometime but the moment she was out with her parents, she forgot what went inside. However, the Mom in question was devastated.
This was all in the morning and then came the feeding time. K as I always mentioned, a very fussy eater and there is nothing in the world I think she likes to eat. Bread butter, cheese, kichddi, Fired Rice, Puri, Upma,………..you name it. She may have it for a day but the next day……..it unpalatable for her. Tuesday followed with 4 days off any solid food for K. Friends consoled us that during fever children do so etc etc and we took it on our stride believing that this will pass. However, my worst nightmare came true when on Saturday doctor proclaimed that she is slowly joining the underweight child club and I need to sit back and take stock. K is still in the range when it comes to weight but what worries is that, she is maintaining the same weight since last 5 months. She was 9 kgs when she was 9 months and she is 9.5 Kgs now when she is 1 year 31/2 months.
In these months I never force-fed her, the moment she signaled no for a food, I accepted, thinking that she will pick up later and our hyperactive K is replenishing her calories adequately. Now the coin has turned and to check on her growth, I need to force-feed her.
I am worried, confused, not sure how to handle the situation. Shall I leave her and let her eat when she is hungry (which I doubt will ever come true) and or shall I force-feed her so that she takes her nutrition. In both cases, I am devastated, either by worrying of her slow growth or by handling a traumatized crying baby whom I am pushing the food into…
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
One Year----------Indeed a Milestone
K is our first child, and for me who has not had the privilege of growing up in a joint family or having an elder sibling, she is actually the first child, I am seeing from such close quarter and in this case seeing her, feeling her as a mother.
J and me often discuss how first year is a milestone and believe me it's so fascinating to watch her transforming to a toddler from an infant (well I can call her that right! atleast she is not an infant anymore). First B’day gave her the wings to walk, gave her 5 teeth to eat a banana and a biscuit by herself, biting at it,gave her the power to address a dog as "Bhow Bhow".
We always underestimated her intelligence as she is yet to address me and J as Mommy or Baba, (though there is those occasional uttering of these phonetics like Ba for J and Mema, Mee, Ami etc for me), but in reality, she is quite a smart one. She has adapted reasonably well to put a mobile by her ears and walk across the room pretending to be deeply involved in a conversation. She opens and closes her mouth to eat, depending on what is on the plate, a plate “Kichri” (Dal/Veggy/Rice Mix) is definitely non-palatable in her list, but a fried Tikki fed with a fork or ice cream is always welcome. Except during sleep she has given feeding bottle a passé and now for this new adult in the block its time to hold a big water bottle (1 litre ones) and gulp water straight from it. And oh Boy! That is not the end; you need to see the temper this one year have, to believe it. Don’t give her the house key or allow her to rampage the dressing table, you are in for a lot of trouble………………With all these, time is just passing and I could feel our little darling is growing up too fast, and for me,as a working mom who is 10 hrs away from her, five days a week its just getting terrible day by day.
J and me often discuss how first year is a milestone and believe me it's so fascinating to watch her transforming to a toddler from an infant (well I can call her that right! atleast she is not an infant anymore). First B’day gave her the wings to walk, gave her 5 teeth to eat a banana and a biscuit by herself, biting at it,gave her the power to address a dog as "Bhow Bhow".
We always underestimated her intelligence as she is yet to address me and J as Mommy or Baba, (though there is those occasional uttering of these phonetics like Ba for J and Mema, Mee, Ami etc for me), but in reality, she is quite a smart one. She has adapted reasonably well to put a mobile by her ears and walk across the room pretending to be deeply involved in a conversation. She opens and closes her mouth to eat, depending on what is on the plate, a plate “Kichri” (Dal/Veggy/Rice Mix) is definitely non-palatable in her list, but a fried Tikki fed with a fork or ice cream is always welcome. Except during sleep she has given feeding bottle a passé and now for this new adult in the block its time to hold a big water bottle (1 litre ones) and gulp water straight from it. And oh Boy! That is not the end; you need to see the temper this one year have, to believe it. Don’t give her the house key or allow her to rampage the dressing table, you are in for a lot of trouble………………With all these, time is just passing and I could feel our little darling is growing up too fast, and for me,as a working mom who is 10 hrs away from her, five days a week its just getting terrible day by day.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Mom; Look what I got as a return gift!
We debated and debated “shall we shall we not”,,,,,,, well the question was shall we throw a party for K’s first B’day or let it be just a family affair. Well as a child whose all b’days were celebrated with full of fan fair I could not deprive K from a great celebration…..well may be I could not deprive myself from a celebration.
Nevertheless, believe me organizing a party and that too at home was not easy. The first thing we did is to create the laundry list of things to do……..and Oh! Boy when the list was ready I didn’t know where to start from……….first came the list of invitees, then the menu and the caterer, followed by the B’day cake which we ordered in the shape of “Mini Mouse” , home decorative and lastly the most toughest of all purchasing “RETURN GIFTS”. We had kids ranging from the age of 6 months to 13 years invited for the party and you can imagine how tough it was for us to select gifts that will appeal to all. K started getting B’day parties invitation when she was barely 3 months old and in all B’days, the host took the effort for giving her something appropriate to her age. Now its turn for her, parents and we went crazy. Thanks to a well-equipped shop and an intelligent shopkeeper, we managed to zero in on individual gifts for all. This was our first time and coming straight from an era where return gifts were merely restricted to pencil, eraser etc we hope we did an okay job to satisfy our junior guests.
However, what I have to hear from friends on this concept of return gift was scary. From a gesture to say “Thank You” this has become a tool of showing off. Starting from the child to the parents’ ones status is pulled up and down in the weighing scale on a basis of the “Return Gift” they give on B’days. Friends with little bigger kids and loads of experience have already warned us, that this is just the beginning and we should wait for K to go to school and see what she brings and what we will HAVE TO GIVE. A neighborhood friendly shopkeeper cannot bell us out; branded shops in dazzling malls have to be the destination.
So in few years it will still be “shall we shall we not” only the question will change to shall we visit X malls for buying the Return Gift or just go to a neighboring shop and let our so called “Status” drain down the sewage pipe.
Nevertheless, believe me organizing a party and that too at home was not easy. The first thing we did is to create the laundry list of things to do……..and Oh! Boy when the list was ready I didn’t know where to start from……….first came the list of invitees, then the menu and the caterer, followed by the B’day cake which we ordered in the shape of “Mini Mouse” , home decorative and lastly the most toughest of all purchasing “RETURN GIFTS”. We had kids ranging from the age of 6 months to 13 years invited for the party and you can imagine how tough it was for us to select gifts that will appeal to all. K started getting B’day parties invitation when she was barely 3 months old and in all B’days, the host took the effort for giving her something appropriate to her age. Now its turn for her, parents and we went crazy. Thanks to a well-equipped shop and an intelligent shopkeeper, we managed to zero in on individual gifts for all. This was our first time and coming straight from an era where return gifts were merely restricted to pencil, eraser etc we hope we did an okay job to satisfy our junior guests.
However, what I have to hear from friends on this concept of return gift was scary. From a gesture to say “Thank You” this has become a tool of showing off. Starting from the child to the parents’ ones status is pulled up and down in the weighing scale on a basis of the “Return Gift” they give on B’days. Friends with little bigger kids and loads of experience have already warned us, that this is just the beginning and we should wait for K to go to school and see what she brings and what we will HAVE TO GIVE. A neighborhood friendly shopkeeper cannot bell us out; branded shops in dazzling malls have to be the destination.
So in few years it will still be “shall we shall we not” only the question will change to shall we visit X malls for buying the Return Gift or just go to a neighboring shop and let our so called “Status” drain down the sewage pipe.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Support me please
This month was the fist time that my 10 months stayed without her mom for four days courtesy an office engagement of mine where I needed to travel out of the country.
It is certainly a difficult decision, where I am still working half times from home and trying to manage both fonts properly. We debated a lot on what we should do. .I could not escape this trip, and thanks to J who volunteered to manage his darling and must say, he did a great job. Yes! when I came back our daughter looked healthy, pretty and happy, though I would like to believe her spirits were little down as she missed her Ma (possessive emotional mother u see!!)
It was the first time, so quiet likely I was not up my spirit when I was away and any little kid I use to come across in the road, use to make me feel more home sick. What irritated me the most is to give answer to all and sundry about who is taking care of my daughter and how I have left her at home? My husband is good with kids and so are several of my friends husband and they all can baby -sit as good as any one of us mummies, then why the question???? Few months back, my husband was away for an office assignments and as per as I remember no one questioned on how I managed and since both me and J share most of the work I too felt exhausted just like how J also felt in my absence. In both the occasion needless to say K was managed perfectly, so the household.
It is just that as a women and especially as a working women you are under the scanner every time, where all and sundry would like to check how you are managing your responsibilities of home and outside. Though we say the society has progressed and has accepted that man and wife are equal and they should share all chores, in reality for household and children matter we still live in the world where it has to be the women who is responsible. I thank God that I have a supportive husband and feel bad for those working mother who may not be as lucky as I am.
It is certainly a difficult decision, where I am still working half times from home and trying to manage both fonts properly. We debated a lot on what we should do. .I could not escape this trip, and thanks to J who volunteered to manage his darling and must say, he did a great job. Yes! when I came back our daughter looked healthy, pretty and happy, though I would like to believe her spirits were little down as she missed her Ma (possessive emotional mother u see!!)
It was the first time, so quiet likely I was not up my spirit when I was away and any little kid I use to come across in the road, use to make me feel more home sick. What irritated me the most is to give answer to all and sundry about who is taking care of my daughter and how I have left her at home? My husband is good with kids and so are several of my friends husband and they all can baby -sit as good as any one of us mummies, then why the question???? Few months back, my husband was away for an office assignments and as per as I remember no one questioned on how I managed and since both me and J share most of the work I too felt exhausted just like how J also felt in my absence. In both the occasion needless to say K was managed perfectly, so the household.
It is just that as a women and especially as a working women you are under the scanner every time, where all and sundry would like to check how you are managing your responsibilities of home and outside. Though we say the society has progressed and has accepted that man and wife are equal and they should share all chores, in reality for household and children matter we still live in the world where it has to be the women who is responsible. I thank God that I have a supportive husband and feel bad for those working mother who may not be as lucky as I am.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Mum! Night is still young, let us play.
K was always a good girl, never really kept me and her father awake apart from the first 4 days, when she was in the Lilavati hospital, which inspite of being one of the best hospitals in the city I live in, has no nursery for infants.
However, since last one week, things have changed drastically. She refuses to go to bed at 9:30 PM, which was so far her standard time, and she prefers to get up several times in between sleep and at 4 in the morning, she expects us to play with her. However, she seems to be doing okay with so less of sleep or in between making it up during the day her parents are having a tough time. She is turning 10 months today and I am just not sure, what phase of life we are entering.
Is this something to do with insecurity, as I am working mother and she spends almost 11 hours in a day with her bay sitter? To confirm I checked her pattern staying at home for 2 days but it had no effect and the 4 clock playing schedule continues. We even got her to our bed at night from her cot, but it is of no avail.
So ,as for now in concern, its wait and watch policy with an expectation this will pass soon.
However, since last one week, things have changed drastically. She refuses to go to bed at 9:30 PM, which was so far her standard time, and she prefers to get up several times in between sleep and at 4 in the morning, she expects us to play with her. However, she seems to be doing okay with so less of sleep or in between making it up during the day her parents are having a tough time. She is turning 10 months today and I am just not sure, what phase of life we are entering.
Is this something to do with insecurity, as I am working mother and she spends almost 11 hours in a day with her bay sitter? To confirm I checked her pattern staying at home for 2 days but it had no effect and the 4 clock playing schedule continues. We even got her to our bed at night from her cot, but it is of no avail.
So ,as for now in concern, its wait and watch policy with an expectation this will pass soon.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Mine
K is growing up to be quiet a sweetheart, extremely friendly, the whole day chatting away in a baby language. However what amazes me is the way she behaves with strangers or with people with whom she is familiar, but are not her family.
If she is at home and we have guests, she will smile back at them when she is in our lap but the moment the guest will try to take her in their lap………there start the
“ Weeeeeeeeeeee” and you can hear her crying profusely as if someone has beaten her. Even when we visit friends and family, K takes good amount of time to get familiarize and the docile behaviors she demonstrate clearly make us go in back foot. When we say how naughty she is at home, no one seems to believe us looking at the quiet shy child sitting in front of them. However, the moment we enter the elevator to come home we can feel a sense of joy in her, and the chirpy girl is back in action; either pulling her ma’s hair or trying to press the button of the elevator.
She is barely nine months old and I have no idea how much she can feel, but can surely say she understand what is her OWN……….her parents, her dog and her home. I can just see that every day, when I bring her from the day care, how happy she is to see us and how bubbly she is when she enters her home. Guess that is what we call “Human Instinct”, you love company, you love to possess, you love to belong to and the seed of it is sowed as early as when one is barely few months old
If she is at home and we have guests, she will smile back at them when she is in our lap but the moment the guest will try to take her in their lap………there start the
“ Weeeeeeeeeeee” and you can hear her crying profusely as if someone has beaten her. Even when we visit friends and family, K takes good amount of time to get familiarize and the docile behaviors she demonstrate clearly make us go in back foot. When we say how naughty she is at home, no one seems to believe us looking at the quiet shy child sitting in front of them. However, the moment we enter the elevator to come home we can feel a sense of joy in her, and the chirpy girl is back in action; either pulling her ma’s hair or trying to press the button of the elevator.
She is barely nine months old and I have no idea how much she can feel, but can surely say she understand what is her OWN……….her parents, her dog and her home. I can just see that every day, when I bring her from the day care, how happy she is to see us and how bubbly she is when she enters her home. Guess that is what we call “Human Instinct”, you love company, you love to possess, you love to belong to and the seed of it is sowed as early as when one is barely few months old
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Bridge the generation gap !
Quiet a strange question my daughter’s baby sitter ( Mini) asked me few days back…….what do you want your daughter to be like when she grows…….one who will hit people in school or one who will get hit by people. To be honest is the question strange or is it I an idealistic mother from a different generation. Mini has an eleven years old boy and quiet naturally she knows this generation of kids much more than I do. Still I was uneasy with that question and could not comprehend how I want my daughter to be when she grows up.
Back to my school days, I did recollect of standing outside the classroom for not getting my homework or making too much noise in the class, occasionally. However cannot really recall that my mother was summoned ever, for me beating someone or ever came home crying profusely of being bitten up by someone. So naturally never thought my daughter will end up, when she grows up, being in any side of the spectrum-- of thrashing someone or being thrashed. She is only eight months but this brings a question in my mind is the first seed of generation gap is just in front of my eyes.
My Mum remained best friend to my sister and me. At the initial years, I remember her to be quiet a strict Mum but as days passed and we became teenagers Ma became our best friend. We could share our deepest secrete with her and in turn got sensible advise from our friend, philosopher and guide. She in been my role model as a human being and more as a mother. I always thought that with my darling when she grows up, I will also try to be her friend at least if not her best friend.
However, today I get puzzled when I look around on how the kids behave. What we did as teenagers they want to do at 7-8. Now I only hope that I can develop that patience and understanding like how my mum did and can bridge this generation gap with a brisk of air.
Back to my school days, I did recollect of standing outside the classroom for not getting my homework or making too much noise in the class, occasionally. However cannot really recall that my mother was summoned ever, for me beating someone or ever came home crying profusely of being bitten up by someone. So naturally never thought my daughter will end up, when she grows up, being in any side of the spectrum-- of thrashing someone or being thrashed. She is only eight months but this brings a question in my mind is the first seed of generation gap is just in front of my eyes.
My Mum remained best friend to my sister and me. At the initial years, I remember her to be quiet a strict Mum but as days passed and we became teenagers Ma became our best friend. We could share our deepest secrete with her and in turn got sensible advise from our friend, philosopher and guide. She in been my role model as a human being and more as a mother. I always thought that with my darling when she grows up, I will also try to be her friend at least if not her best friend.
However, today I get puzzled when I look around on how the kids behave. What we did as teenagers they want to do at 7-8. Now I only hope that I can develop that patience and understanding like how my mum did and can bridge this generation gap with a brisk of air.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
